Controls & Automation Engineer

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 196,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Equity

Onsite meals

Job summary

Vast, based in Long Beach, CA, seeks a Controls & Automation Engineer to drive the development of human-rated vehicle processes as Haven-1 moves from design to flight readiness.

The role focuses on building and maintaining a data acquisition and controls stack, with close collaboration across software, thermal, manufacturing, propulsion, and other teams. Evening/weekend support may be required.

Qualifications

• B.S. in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing or electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Manufacturing experience managing a product across multiple work centers and/or departments with hardware in design, manufacturing, or test.
• Hands-on fabrication, assembly, and/or integration experience; CAD proficiency (NX preferred).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a data acquisition and controls stack for test teams at the Long Beach site.
• Design, implement, and own complex control systems for testing space-rated hardware.
• Collaborate across disciplines to drive robust testing practices and define new capabilities for the test stack.
• Troubleshoot and debug test assets to resolve issues quickly and maintain performance.

Skills

Data acquisition

Controls engineering

Hardware integration

Troubleshooting

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

GD&T

Education

B.S. in mechanical engineering

B.S. in aerospace engineering

B.S. in electrical engineering

Tools

NX

PLM (Teamcenter)

Ansys

Job description

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Controls & Automation Engineer, to help develop the systems behind our human-rated space stations. You will drive the development and execution of human-rated vehicle processes as Haven-1 transitions from design to a flight-ready station.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach, CA location.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a data acquisition and controls stack to support a wide range of partnering test teams at the Long Beach site—creating software tools and setting standards for test assets and practices.
• Design, implement, and own complex control systems for testing space-rated hardware, with responsibility for both hardware and software components.
• Collaborate across disciplines—including software, thermal, manufacturing, propulsion, ECLSS, and mechanical test teams to drive robust testing practices, gather upgrade requests, and define new capabilities for the test stack.
• Troubleshoot and debug test assets to resolve issues quickly and ensure optimal test system performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in mechanical, aerospace, manufacturing or electrical engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field.
• Manufacturing experience (including internships) managing a product/product line across multiple work centers and/or departments, fluid, pressurized, propulsion, or environmental control hardware in design, manufacturing, or test.
• 2-4+ years of experience for Manufacturing Engineer II
• 4-6+ years of experience for Senior Manufacturing Engineer
• Hands-on fabrication, assembly, and/or integration experience; CAD proficiency (NX preferred).

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Hands-on experience building or testing hardware, in industry or through student teams such as Formula SAE, rocketry, CubeSat, or robotics.
• Experience with aerospace, spacecraft, propulsion, or other safety-critical or high-reliability hardware.
• Experience taking designs or processes from concept through build or test, and from R&D to production.
• Familiarity with CAD tools, ideally Siemens NX, and PLM tools such as Teamcenter.
• Exposure to thermal or structural analysis using Ansys, or similar tools.
• Awareness of aerospace workmanship, design, and environmental test standards such as IPC, SMC-S-016, NASA-STD-5001, or MIL-STD-810.
• Proficiency applying GD&T.
• Strong problem-solving skills, including troubleshooting and structured root cause analysis.
• Strong attention to detail, clear communication, and the ability to work well in cross-functional teams.
• Senior Level: experience mentoring engineers or technicians and managing multiple projects at once.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Pay Ranges

• Engineer/ Level I: $86,100.00 - $122,220.00
• Engineer/ Level II: $112,340.00 - $159,468.00
• Senior Engineer/ Level III: $137,760.00 - $195,552.00

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

Compensation And Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.